A delegation from the Public Transport Workers Syndicate on Tuesday submitted a memorandum of demands of transportation employees to the prime minister and said it would begin an official sit-in with buses in front of the cabinet until the demands are met.
Workers from Cairo’s 27 public transportation garages had already begun an unofficial sit-in three days ago, which they continued on Tuesday. The syndicate has postponed beginning its sit-in due to the Saturday death of the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda III.
Ismail Mohamed, the syndicate treasurer, said the memorandum calls for the government to clearly state that the Public Transportation Authority is affiliated with the Transportation Ministry, set end-of-service payments at 100 months pay, set up a social insurance unit for workers in the sector and improve health care service at hospitals affiliated with the transportation authority.
Members of the syndicate have agreed to submit their demands to the cabinet as a last-ditch resort after a failed meeting with the Cairo governor, Mohamed added.
Alaa al-Sayed, a member of the General Syndicate for Land Transport, said the strike is costing the transportation authority LE1 million a day. He added that the syndicate supports the workers' legitimate demands but urges them not to delay work at the authority or harm the interests of citizens.
The syndicate is preparing a memorandum including the workers’ demands to submit to the cabinet, Sayed added.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
